First Corinthians 16
Monday, March 23 1 Corinthians 16:1-4
“Now about thecollection for God’s people”
The collection to which Paul refers formeda major enterprise of his third missionary journey. Significant numbers of Jewish Christians inJerusalem were impoverished, and Paul spent substantial energy raising fundsfrom various Gentile churches in Asia and Europe to help meet their needs. But in addition to alleviating physicalsuffering, Paul undoubtedly saw the collection as an opportunity to bringgreater unity within the church across Jewish and Gentile boundaries, to payoff a spiritual debt of sorts that the Gentile congregations owed their “motherchurch” in Jerusalem, and to demonstrate the genuineness of GentileChristianity to skeptical Jewish Christians.
In addition, the offering would be atestimony to the unsaved world and to Christians everywhere of the faith andlove of those who participated. Morepeople might well be won to Christ, and others would grow in their faith andgive an outpouring of thanks to God.
We are called to be generous, Lord, as awitness to your generosity. Amen.
Tuesday, March 24 Romans 15:23-29
“Before I come, Imust go to Jerusalem”
In this letterto the Christians in Rome, written while in Corinth, Paul mentions his nextthree intended destinations: first Jerusalem, then Rome to spend time withthem, and then on to Spain to bring the gospel there. The purpose of Paul’s visit to Jerusalem isto bring to a successful climax his long-cherished project of collecting moneyfrom Gentile churches for the impoverished saints in the home city of thegospel, including Gentile churches in Macedonia (which include Philippi andThessalonica) and Achaia (which includes Corinth).
Paul hasrequested money from them, but he makes it clear that they gave of their ownfree will. For Paul, this is not just acharitable project; it is also designed to bring into closer fellowship Gentileand Jewish believers. Paul will onlyhead for Rome and Spain when he has completed this task of bringing thecollection to Jerusalem. Why must Paulhimself accompany the collection? Paul,as the apostle to the Gentiles, must accompany the gift in order to authenticateits purpose as a material as well as a spiritual gift from Gentile to JewishChristians.
Whenwe give, Lord, others are blessed in many ways. Amen.
Wednesday, March 25 1 Corinthians 16:5-9
“I am coming to visit you”
As Paul preparesto close his letter, he includes some personal remarks concerning his currentministry itinerary. His goal is to cometo Corinth (modern southern Greece) to visit them after he has revisitedMacedonia (modern northern Greece), and to spend a full winter with them. Paul’s motivation was at least twofold: (1)He wanted to have a significant period of time with the troubled Corinthians inhopes of substantially improving the situation in the church there; and (2) hehoped to avoid having to travel during that season of the year in which thehigh seas were generally impassable and travel overland was much more arduous.
Paul informs usof his current location (Ephesus, in modern Turkey), which enables us to datethe writing of this letter to the events of Acts 19. There we see ample illustrations of the twoprinciples of verse 9 – “a great door for effective work” and “many who opposeme.” The former included remarkableconversions and turning away from idols, the latter, occult opposition and townriots.
Bless the time,Lord, when we visit Sisters and Brothers in Christ. Amen.
Thursday, March 26 1 Corinthians 16:10-12
“When Timothy comes”
Paul’s concern over how Timothy will bereceived is most likely related to their conflict with Paul himself, and it isprobably heightened by Timothy’s youthfulness and possible even by hispersonality. (2 Timothy 1:7 seems tosuggest that Timothy was a naturally timid person.) Paul wants the church to treat hisrepresentative and “son in the Lord” with respect and consideration.
Verse 12 appears to respond to the finalquestion the Corinthians had raised in their letter to Paul. Not only does Paul again say “now about,” butit is unlikely that he alone would have taken the initiative to urge Apollos toreturn to Corinth in light of the danger of inflaming the divisiveness thatexisted between the various factions within the church who each had theirpreferred leader (see chapter one). Didthe Corinthians suspect that Paul was hindering Apollos from coming when theyreally wanted to see him? Apollos’reluctance to go could reflect his concern to wait for a more opportune timewhen things had settled down in Corinth.
Thank you, Lord,for those you call to lead in your church. Amen.
Friday, March 27 1 Corinthians 16:13-18
“The household ofStephanas”
Verse 13 contains four parallel commandsemploying military metaphors to encourage resoluteness in faith. Balancing these commands to be strong is thecall to love in verse 14. As with Paul’sdiscussion of spiritual gifts in chapters 12-14, all Christian activity musttake place within the sphere of putting others above self.
In verses 15-18 Paul gives thanks forthree Corinthian Christians who have come to him in Ephesus and encouragedhim. In 1:16 we learned that Paulbaptized the household of Stephanas. Weknow nothing else about Fortunatus or Achaicus, although the former was aHellenistic name often adopted by a freed slave (meaning “fortunate”). It is possible that both of these men werepart of Stephanas’ household, once slaves but now freedmen who had travelledwith Stephanas to visit and support Paul. These men not only renewed Paul’s spirit but were also an encouragementto their fellow Corinthians. They shouldbe recognized and honored for their ministry.
We are grateful, Lord, for all who serve inyour name. Amen.
Saturday, March 28 1 Corinthians 16:19-24
“Final greetings”
Verses 19-20 convey greetings to theCorinthian churches from four groups of fellow believers: (1) the variouschurches in Asia Minor; (2) Paul’s good friends Aquila and Priscilla, coworkerswith him in Corinth and later partners with him in his ministry in Ephesus; (3)the specific house church that met in their home; and, (4) Paul’s otherimmediate companions in ministry. Inverse 21 Paul himself, no longer dictating his letter to his secretary, picksup the pen and writes his closing greeting.
Both parts of verse 22 followabruptly. They may reflect conventionalstatements used by the early church. Paul’s “curse” utilizes the Greek expression anathema which he has used elsewhere to indicate a person who isexcluded from the Christian community. “Come, O Lord” is the translation of the Aramaic Marana tha. Together the twoexpressions reflect the profound seriousness with which the early church viewedfaithfulness to Christ. He ends hisletter with one final reminder of his love for these often exasperatingChristians in Corinth.
Maywe, like Paul, Lord, love those who are difficult to love. Amen.